The Kofuku-ji Temple costs 500 yen. This is the Central Golden Hall where Buddha sits. One hand welcomes and one hand pushes away. No photos permitted. The Black Pagoda is under restoration as of April, 2024.

Kofukuji Temple is particularly famous in Nara, but the Tokondo and the five-storied pagoda were under construction and could not be visited. However, the National Treasure Hall is filled with wonderful Buddha statues. In particular, the The statue of Ashura" is too famous, but I was also impressed by other wonderful Buddha statues. I would love to see it. The Chukon-do Hall is a beautiful red building with a statue of Shaka Nyorai inside, and the Nanen-do Hall is free of charge. It was very crowded near Nara Park, but it was my first visit since my school trip.

Kōfuku-ji Temple is a highlight of Nara’s rich history and Buddhist heritage. A key site from the Nara period (710–794 AD), it reflects the artistic achievements of Tempyō culture. Unfortunately, when I visited, the iconic five-story pagoda was under construction, but the rest of the temple and its exquisite Buddhist statues were still impressive. It’s a must-see for anyone exploring Nara and interested in Japan’s cultural past.

This was the least busy temple area we visited while in Nara and is very close to the Higashimuki Shopping Street. We spent about 15 minutes here looking around on the way to the famous deer park area. It is free to walk in the area but you need to get a ticket to go into certain buildings. Closest metro station is Kintetsu-Nara Station and it is about a 10-15 minute walk to the area with lots of deer.